What is CPAP?
Headache and Sleep Apnea Treatment
Calgary, Alberta
For years, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) has been one of the most common treatments for sleep apnea. CPAP treatment uses a special mask and hose to deliver air to your nasal passages. This air helps prevent your throat from collapsing while you sleep so that you can breathe freely through the night.
CPAP can be a very effective treatment for sleep apnea. It also helps minimize snoring so that your bed partner can enjoy a restful night’s sleep as well. CPAP can also reduce other issues associated with sleep apnea, such as headaches.
Problems with CPAP
Unfortunately, there are also many problems associated with CPAP that make it a less than ideal solution for many sleep apnea patients. You must wear the CPAP appliance every night in order to reap the benefits of this treatment. However, many patients have trouble complying with this treatment. In fact, only about 25-45% of CPAP patients successfully use the apparatus as often as necessary.
In many cases, patients do not use the CPAP device for more than 4 hours a night, and some patients fail to use it at all. This poor compliance rate becomes very problematic for a treatment that must be worn all night to be effective.
Other problems with CPAP include:
- Facial breakouts from the straps
- Eye irritation
- Nasal irritation
- Mouth dryness
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
People who breathe through their mouths or sleep on their stomachs also frequently have difficulty complying with CPAP treatment.
CPAP Alternatives – Oral Appliance Therapy
Due to the poor compliance rate associated with CPAP, Calgary dentist Dr. Steven Cload may recommend oral appliance therapy to treat your sleep apnea.
Oral appliance therapy uses a mouth piece to move your lower jaw forward and keep your airway open while you sleep. Dr. Cload generally uses the SomnoMed Mandibular Advancement Device because it offers you the following benefits:
- Comfortable to wear
- Easy to use
- Allows you to open your mouth
- Custom-fit to your mouth
Don’t delay sleep apnea treatment any longer. The long term health risks are too serious to continue suffering with this condition. Dr. Cload can help you alleviate your sleep apnea symptoms so that you can sleep through the night once and for all.
Please contact Dr. Cload today to schedule your initial sleep apnea consultation. Southcentre Dental Clinic serves sleep apnea patients in Calgary, Alberta.
